Senator lands on closed runway endangering lives of workers

APRIL 13--Newly released Federal Aviation Administration documents and audiotapes shed a scary new light on a bizarre incident late last year during which U.S. Senator James Inhofe landed his Cessna on a closed runway at a south Texas airport, scattering construction workers who ran for their lives as the politicians plane hopscotched over them and six vehicles.

The FAA material, provided in response to a TSG Freedom of Information Act request, details how Inhofe, 76, chose to land on the main runway at the Cameron County Airport on October 21 despite being aware that it was closed and had a large X on its threshold.

The politician, the FAA investigation determined, still elected to land avoiding the men and the equipment on the runway. In a bid to avoid legal enforcement action, Inhofe, who has a commercial pilots license, agreed to complete a program of remedial training, according to an FAA letter sent in January to Inhofe, a third-term Republican senator from Oklahoma. Inhofe is pictured at right.

Shortly after Inhofe landed, Sidney Boyd, who was supervising construction on the closed runway, called the FAA to report that Inhofes plane, a twin-engine six-seater, initially touched down on the runway and then 'sky hopped' over the six vehicles and personnel working on the runway, and then landed.

During the call, which was recorded by the FAA, Boyd said Inhofes antics scared the crap out of workers, adding that the Cessna damn near hit a red truck. Referring to the vehicles driver, Boyd added, I think he actually wet his britches, he was scared to death. I mean, hell, he started trying to head for the side of the runway. The pilot could see him, or he should have been able to, he was right on him.

Boyd also said that Inhofe showed little contrition following the close call. He come over here and started being like, 'What the hell is this? I was supposed to have unlimited airspace.'

well not like they can press any legal charges against him while the senate is in session. He is protected against that.
This is sad because really it is not like he had an emergency and had to do the landing but instead was just being lazy and not wanting to land somewhere else.

It speaks volumes about him and as far as I am concerned about the rest of the members of congress it shows that they think they are better than everyone else and they can do what ever they want.

Dear The FAA. Please for the love of everything remove his pilots license, and stop him getting near the cockpit of anything that can fly. Including Gliders. Anyone who can ignore a closed runway doesn't deserve to be remotely close to being in a cockpit. I wonder if this idiot would drive down a closed bit of Interstate and just hop around the workers there too

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